I am calling an all out WAR on juice boxes! Holy smokes! I can’t believe how often I am picking them up and tossing them in recycling. I know I’m a Green Mom and shouldn’t even have them but I am just like you—I am a work in progress.
We never used to buy juice boxes. However, two of my kids have food allergies and I can’t have them buy lunches at school. Juice boxes became a handy way to send a drink. But that is 40 little boxes (or more) a month that we then recycle (if they are cardboard) or throw away (if they are Capri Sun or Minute Maid, which from what I can tell are not made from a recyclable material-UGH).
I am currently looking for a good sports bottle that doesn’t leak, fits in a lunchbox and that youngest can easily open. We will use that instead and the “big announcement” to the kids has already been made.
But here is another issue: dye allergies also run in the family and all the big bottles of juice seem to have much more dye to make them nice and bright, apparently. I do like how Capri Sun has very few dyes in it. If you ever pour one in a glass, you will see that it is almost clear. Also, sometimes the juice in boxes have lower-sugar varieties whereas the bigger containers don’t seem to have this option because they are often straight fruit.
So here is my thought: why can’t someone provide a business for refilling bottles of juice, and even milk? Think the big refillable water jugs that we already use-only make them smaller so they can fit in the fridge. Each family could receive a certain number for juice, milk or whatever, and we go FILL THEM up when needed—washing them between fillings.
Well, why not? It can’t be much harder than running to the store for milk except for the extra stop. But isn’t our environment worth it?
How are we ever going to get off this cycle of GARBAGE (think WALL-E®) without the manufacturer’s making the move to REFUSE TO PRODUCE IT?
We have made strides but we are so far from being where we need to be. Please join me in getting rid of the juice boxes as much as possible and buying the larger-size juice bottles instead.
More From Julie
I get the reusable juice boxes for my son to have his rice drink at school. Been many years since we have used disposable juice boxes. I fid the white plastic ones at Target and Rite Aid.
Thanks Bonnie. Good to know. Thank you so much for reading!